Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.

The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+22), management of the economy (+18), political leadership (+18) and controlling interest rates (+14). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-11) and Australian jobs, protection of local industries (-7), ensuring a quality education (-7) and housing affordability (-7).

Main changes since this question was asked last month have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on political leadership (up net 9 points), and improvement for the Labor Party on housing affordability (up 7) and treatment of asylum seekers (up 5).

Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Liberal % from Labor % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Greens minus Liberal.

The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle management of the economy (-13), controlling interest rates (-12), security and the war on terrorism (-16) and treatment of asylum seekers (-17). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a quality education for all children (+15), ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+13), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+12) and a fair industrial relations system (+11).

Since this question was asked in February, the Labor Party has improved its position on most issues – especially the quality of the health system (up 11), Australian jobs and protection of local industries (up 10) and education (up 8).

Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

Total

22 Apr 14

Vote ALP

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Grn

Vote other

23 Jul 13

30 Jul 12

6 June 11

25 Jan 10

Management of the economy

54%

43%

75%

22%

44%

45%

64%

61%

63%

Ensuring a quality education for all children

27%

35%

18%

38%

20%

25%

26%

26%

23%

Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

50%

54%

43%

62%

52%

42%

47%

49%

48%

Protecting the environment

13%

12%

7%

42%

14%

12%

11%

15%

16%

A fair industrial relations system

12%

17%

11%

8%

12%

10%

12%

8%

na

Political leadership

15%

11%

24%

6%

13%

21%

25%

17%

23%

Addressing climate change

10%

13%

4%

28%

9%

11%

9%

15%

16%

Controlling interest rates

9%

9%

11%

2%

7%

13%

9%

13%

15%

Australian jobs and protection of local industries

37%

39%

37%

18%

37%

39%

41%

32%

33%

Ensuring a quality water supply

4%

5%

3%

3%

5%

3%

3%

5%

12%

Housing affordability

17%

18%

16%

13%

19%

17%

13%

16%

14%

Ensuring a fair taxation system

20%

19%

20%

9%

23%

20%

18%

17%

14%

Security and the war on terrorism

5%

3%

8%

3%

5%

8%

5%

8%

9%

Treatment of asylum seekers

8%

5%

5%

32%

9%

14%

10%

5%

na

Managing population growth

9%

6%

10%

8%

16%

9%

8%

12%

na

54% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 50% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 37% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 27% ensuring a quality education for all children.

Main changes since this question was asked last July – management of the economy up 9%, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system up 8%, political leadership down 6% and treatment of asylum seekers down 6%.

Q. Which of the following should be mainly the responsibility of the Federal Government and which should be mainly the responsibility of the State Governments – or should they have equal responsibility?

Mainly Federal

Mainly State

Both

equally

Don’t know

Improving the health system

43%

11%

41%

6%

Addressing climate change

41%

4%

45%

9%

Improving the education system

40%

14%

40%

6%

Industrial relations issues

39%

13%

40%

8%

Managing mining projects and mining profits

39%

20%

32%

9%

Managing the environment

32%

11%

50%

7%

Managing our water resources

25%

23%

46%

6%

Constructing new roads and highways

21%

33%

41%

6%

Investing in regional areas

16%

40%

37%

7%

Investing in public transport

11%

52%

32%

6%

Issues which were considered mainly Federal responsibilities were the health system, climate change and education.

Public transport and regional investment were considered to be more the responsibilities of the State Governments.

The environment, managing water resources and constructing new roads and highways were more likely to be considered a shared responsibility.

Q. Which party leader – Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott – would you trust most to handle the following issues?

Kevin Rudd

Tony Abbott

No difference

Don’t know

Net difference

Difference for parties

23 Jul 13

Management of the economy

32%

35%

21%

11%

-3

-15

Ensuring a quality education for all children

41%

25%

24%

10%

+16

+9

Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

37%

27%

25%

11%

+10

+1

Protecting the environment

33%

22%

31%

14%

+11

na

A fair industrial relations system

41%

28%

19%

12%

+13

+11

Political leadership

37%

32%

22%

9%

+5

-7

Addressing climate change

35%

21%

31%

13%

+14

na

Controlling interest rates

24%

32%

32%

12%

-8

-14

Australian jobs and protection of local industries

32%

30%

25%

13%

+2

-1

Ensuring a quality water supply

26%

23%

36%

15%

+3

-7

Housing affordability

26%

25%

34%

15%

+1

-2

Ensuring a fair taxation system

31%

32%

26%

11%

-1

-2

Security and the war on terrorism

25%

29%

33%

13%

-4

-15

Treatment of asylum seekers

26%

31%

32%

11%

-5

-11

Managing population growth

21%

28%

37%

15%

-7

-13

Substantially more respondents said they would trust Kevin Rudd more than Tony Abbott to handle a quality education for all children, a fair industrial relations system, addressing climate change, protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system. Tony Abbott is more trusted to control interest rates and manage population growth.

When compared with a similar question about trust in the parties asked last month, Kevin Rudd rates considerably better that the Labor Party on management of the economy, political leadership and security and the war on terrorism.